Sloped finfet with methods of forming same

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) structure, which can include: a semiconductor fin; a gate dielectric positioned above a first region of the semiconductor fin; a spacer positioned above a second region of the semiconductor fin and adjacent to the gate dielectric; and a source/drain region contacting a third region of the semiconductor fin; wherein the first region of the semiconductor fin includes substantially vertical sidewalls, and the third region of the semiconductor fin includes sloped sidewalls.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates generally to structures and manufacturingprocesses for field effect transistors (FETs). More specifically,embodiments of the present disclosure include a sloped finFET structure,and processes for fabricating the sloped finFET structure.

In integrated circuit (IC) structures, a transistor is a criticalcomponent for implementing digital circuitry designs. Generally, atransistor includes three electrical terminals: a source, a drain, and agate. By applying different voltages to the gate terminal, the flow ofelectric current between the source and the drain can be turned on andoff. A common type of transistor is a metal oxide field effecttransistor (MOSFET). One type of MOSFET structure is a “FinFET,”typically formed upon a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer andburied insulator layer. A FinFET can include a semiconductor structureetched into a “fin” shaped body, with one side of the fin acting as asource terminal and the other side of the fin acting as a drainterminal. A gate structure, which may be at least partially conductive,can be formed around one or more of the semiconductor fins. By applyinga voltage to the gate structure, an electrically conductive channel canbe created between the source and drain terminals of each fin in contactwith the gate.

Over time, improvements to the structure and performance of atransistor, in addition to the ever-decreasing size of these components,have presented significant technical and manufacturing challenges.FinFETs in particular present conflicting demands for high yieldprocesses and high-performance FETs. For example, designing the finstructures in a finFET as vertical elements can offer accurate andstable performance during operation. At the same time, these verticalelements can impede some manufacturing processes. For example, verticalsidewalls may impede the forming of source and drain contacts, spacerfabrication, epitaxial growth, and may also create additional electricalresistance during operation.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A first aspect of the disclosure provides an integrated circuit (IC)structure including: a semiconductor fin; a gate dielectric positionedabove a first region of the semiconductor fin; a spacer positioned abovea second region of the semiconductor fin and adjacent to the gatedielectric; and a source/drain region contacting a third region of thesemiconductor fin; wherein the first region of the semiconductor finincludes substantially vertical sidewalls, and the third region of thesemiconductor fin includes sloped sidewalls.

A second aspect of the disclosure provides a method of forming anintegrated circuit (IC) structure. The method can include: forming asacrificial gate on a semiconductor fin; forming a first spacer on thesemiconductor fin; tapering an exposed portion of the semiconductor finto form sloped sidewalls thereon; and forming a second spacer at leastpartially on the exposed portion of the semiconductor fin.

A third aspect of the disclosure provides an integrated circuit (IC)structure. The IC structure can include: a semiconductor fin; a gatedielectric positioned above a channel region of the semiconductor fin,the channel region of the semiconductor fin being positioned between twoend regions of the semiconductor fin; a spacer positioned above the twoend regions of the semiconductor fin, wherein the spacer is positionedcircumferentially about the gate dielectric; a source contact coupled toone of the two end regions of the semiconductor fin; and a drain contactcoupled to the other of the two end regions of the semiconductor fin;wherein the channel region of the semiconductor fin includessubstantially vertical sidewalls, and the two end regions of thesemiconductor fin include sloped sidewalls.

The illustrative aspects of the present disclosure are designed to solvethe problems herein described and/or other problems not discussed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this disclosure will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings that depict various embodiments of the disclosure, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insulator later positionedbetween two semiconductor layers in a process according to embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of multiple semiconductor finsformed from a semiconductor layer and positioned on an insulator layerin a process according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3-4 show top-down views of process steps according to embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor fin with slopedsidewalls according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 6-7 show top-down views of other process steps according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 8-10 show cross-sectional views of processes for removing asacrificial gate and processing a semiconductor fin according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows a top-down view of an integrated circuit (IC) structureaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 12-14 show cross-sectional views of an IC structure according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

It is noted that the drawings of the disclosure are not to scale. Thedrawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the disclosure,and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of thedisclosure. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elementsamong the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC)structure with features for enhancing both manufacturability andperformance. The present disclosure also contemplates methods forfabricating the IC structure described herein. Generally, an ICstructure according to the present disclosure can include a finFET witha gate dielectric and spacer(s) formed over a portion (e.g., a centralportion) of one or more semiconductor fins positioned on an insulatingmaterial. The portions of the semiconductor fin which contact the gatedielectric and/or spacers, and may include at least substantiallyvertical sidewalls. Other portions of the semiconductor fin(s) canextend beyond the gate dielectric and spacer(s), and may include slopedsidewalls. Source and drain contacts can be formed over and/or incontact with the sloped sidewalls of the semiconductor fin(s) to form anelectrical connection to other elements. The sloped sidewalls, amongother things, can increase the amount of viable surface area upon whichsource and drain contacts (or other structures) can be fabricatedthrough epitaxial growth.

Referring to FIG. 1, a process of forming an IC according to aspects ofthe present disclosure is shown. A substrate 12 can be composed of anycurrently known or later developed semiconductor material, which mayinclude without limitation: silicon, germanium, silicon carbide, andsubstances consisting essentially of one or more III-V compoundsemiconductors having a composition defined by the formulaAl_(X1)Ga_(X2)In_(X3)As_(Y1)P_(Y2)N_(Y3)Sb_(Y4), where X1, X2, X3, Y1,Y2, Y3, and Y4 represent relative proportions, each greater than orequal to zero and X1+X2+X3+Y1+Y2+Y3+Y4=1 (1 being the total relativemole quantity). Other suitable substances can include II-VI compoundsemiconductors having a composition Zn_(A1)Cd_(A2)Se_(B1)Te_(B2), whereA1, A2, B1, and B2 are relative proportions each greater than or equalto zero and A1+A2+B1+B2=1 (1 being a total mole quantity). Furthermore,the entirety of substrate 12 or a portion thereof may be strained.

A buried insulator layer 14 can be formed on and positioned abovesubstrate 12. Buried insulator layer 14 may be composed of anyinsulating material such as SiO₂ or a dielectric having a highdielectric constant, which may be, for example, above 3.9. In somesituations, buried insulator layer 14 may be composed of an oxidesubstance, and correspondingly may be referred to as a buried oxide(BOX) layer. Materials appropriate for the composition of buriedinsulator layer 14 may include, for example, silicon dioxide (SiO₂),silicon nitride (SiN), hafnium oxide (HfO₂), alumina (Al₂O₃), yttriumoxide (Y₂O₃), tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅), titanium dioxide (TiO₂),praseodymium oxide (Pr₂O₃), zirconium oxide (ZrO₂), erbium oxide(ErO_(X)), and other currently known or later developed materials havingsimilar properties.

A semiconductor layer 16 can be formed on buried insulator layer 14. Oneprocess by which semiconductor layer 16 can be formed on buriedinsulator layer 14 is wafer bonding. “Wafer bonding” generally can referto a process in which two semiconductor wafers are bonded together,forming a single substrate material. The bonded semiconductor wafers canbe cut using any currently known or later developed semiconductor or SOIfabrication process. As one example, a semiconductor material can beformed by implanting a bonded wafer with hydrogen and then annealing thewafer, causing it to split along the plane of the implanted hydrogen.Semiconductor layer 16 can, together with substrate 12 and buriedinsulator layer 14, form a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure.Semiconductor layer 16 can be composed of, for example, silicon oranother semiconductor material, and optionally may have the samematerial composition as substrate 12.

Turning to FIG. 2, a view of substrate 12, buried insulator layer 14,and semiconductor layer 16 undergoing a process according to the presentdisclosure is shown. IC structures according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure can take the form of a finFET component. A finFETgenerally refers to a FET design typically built from an SOI substrate,where semiconductor material positioned on a buried insulator layer isetched into one or more fin-shaped structures to act as a channel. Agate component and/or other elements of the resulting finFET can beformed around and over the fin(s), as detailed in other process stepsoutlined herein. Following the formation of semiconductor layer 16, oneor more semiconductor fins 18 can be formed therefrom via any currentlyknown or later developed process of removing a portion of asemiconductor material, e.g., depositing a material and performing apattern etch. As used herein, the term “depositing” may include any nowknown or later developed technique appropriate for deposition, includingbut not limited to, for example: chemical vapor deposition (CVD),low-pressure CVD (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD), sub-atmosphereCVD (SACVD) high density plasma CVD (HDPCVD), rapid thermal CVD (RTCVD),ultra-high vacuum CVD (UHVCVD), limited reaction processing CVD(LRPCVD), metalorganic CVD (MOCVD), sputtering deposition, ion beamdeposition, electron beam deposition, laser assisted deposition, thermaloxidation, thermal nitridation, spin-on methods, physical vapordeposition (PVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical oxidation,molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), plating, and evaporation. In addition,“removing” as used herein can include any one of various materialremoval or polishing techniques now known or later developed, e.g.,etching, a reactive ion etch (RIE), etc. “RIE” or “reactive ion etch”refers to a variation of plasma etching in which, during etching, asemiconductor wafer is placed on an RF powered electrode. ThroughoutRIE, the wafer may take on an electric potential which accelerates theetching species extracted from plasma toward the etched surface.

Although three semiconductor fins 18 are shown in FIG. 2 by way ofexample, a single FinFET structure can include only one semiconductorfin 18, or any desired greater number of semiconductor fins. Inalternative embodiments, semiconductor fins 18 can be formed by removingportions of buried insulator layer 14 and forming semiconductivematerial therein (e.g., by deposition). Although semiconductor fins 18are shown by example as protruding from buried insulator layer 14, it isunderstood that embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied tosemiconductor fins 18 which extend through buried insulator layer 14 tocontact substrate 12. In any event, semiconductor fins 18 can includesidewalls 19 which may be substantially vertical (e.g., oriented at anangle between approximately eighty-seven degrees and approximatelyninety-three degrees) from the surface of buried insulator layer 14.

A top-down view of semiconductor fin 18 undergoing a process accordingto the present disclosure is provided in FIG. 3. A sacrificial gate 20can be formed on semiconductor fin 18. Sacrificial gate 20 can be formedby deposition and patterning and/or any other currently known or laterdeveloped process of forming an at least partially conductive materialor a metal on another component. In an embodiment, sacrificial gate 20can be in the form of a single or multilayered component includingmetals or semiconductive materials such as polycrystalline silicon.Sacrificial gate 20 can also be formed on and/or in contact with buriedinsulator layer 14 (FIGS. 1, 2) in addition to semiconductor fin 18.Buried insulator layer 14 is omitted from FIG. 3 for the purposes ofclarity, and it is understood that buried insulator layer 14 can bepositioned below semiconductor fin 18 and extend laterally beyond thesurface area where semiconductor fin 18 contacts buried insulator layer14.

Turning to FIG. 4, another process step according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure is shown. A first spacer 22 can be formed onsemiconductor fin 18. First spacer 22 can be positionedcircumferentially about sacrificial gate 20, such that first spacer 22contacts both sacrificial gate 20 and semiconductor fin 18. First spacer22 can be formed, e.g., by deposition on buried insulator layer 14(FIGS. 1, 2), semiconductor fin 18, and sacrificial gate 20. To exposesacrificial gate 20, portions of first spacer 22 can be removed and/orplanarized. First spacer 22 can electrically isolate sacrificial gate 20from other components of an IC structure, e.g., other wires andcomponents laterally separated from sacrificial gate 20. First spacer 22can also support the structural interface between semiconductor fin(s)18 and other elements. In some embodiments, first spacer 22 can beformed as a coating on semiconductor fin(s) 18, sacrificial gate 20,and/or other elements. First spacer 22 can be composed of, e.g., aninsulating material such as a nitride or an oxide compound, including,for example, one or more of the insulating materials described herein.

Referring to FIG. 5, a process for modifying semiconductor fin(s) 18 isshown. A dielectric 24 can be formed on buried insulator layer 14, e.g.,by deposition thereon followed by selective etching and/or removal ofdielectric material formed on portions of semiconductor fin(s) 18 and/orother elements discussed herein. Dielectric 24 can contact and/orpartially cover sidewalls 19 of semiconductor fin 18, while leaving theremainder of semiconductor fin(s) 18 exposed. Exposed portions ofsemiconductor fin(s) 18 can be tapered into a sloped shape by anycurrently known or later developed process for partially removing and/ormodifying an IC element, e.g., by partially etching semiconductor fin(s)18 to form a sloped shape. In an embodiment, the tapering process can beperformed by orienting conventional etching and/or other tools forpartially removing a semiconductor material at a particular angle.

The process of tapering can form sloped sidewalls 26 on exposed portionsof semiconductor fin(s) 18. Sloped sidewalls 26 can be oriented to havea non-perpendicular angle with respect to buried insulator layer 14, andas an example can be oriented at an angle α of between approximatelyseventy degrees and approximately eighty-seven degrees relative toburied insulator layer 14. As used herein, the term “approximately” inrelation to a specified numerical value (including percentages of basenumerical values) can include all values within ten percentage points of(i.e., above or below) the specified numerical value or percentage,and/or all other values which cause no operational difference orsubstantial operational difference between the modified value and theenumerated value. The term approximately can also include other specificvalues or ranges where specified herein. It is understood that slopedsidewalls 26 of a single semiconductor fin 18 can have varyingdimensions and/or angles α throughout a particular surface, and withrespect to other sloped sidewalls 26 of a single semiconductor fin 18.

Turning to FIG. 6, embodiments of the present disclosure can includeforming additional spacer components after the forming of slopedsidewalls 26. A second spacer 28 can be formed at least partially onexposed portions of semiconductor fin(s) 18. In an embodiment, secondspacer 28 can be formed on (e.g., by deposition) and positioned incontact with one or more semiconductor fins 18, sacrificial gate 20 andfirst spacer 22. The formed second spacer 28 can then be modified orpartially removed (e.g., by etching and/or planarization), such that theformed second spacer 28 is positioned circumferentially about firstspacer 22. Sloped sidewalls 26 may be formed on semiconductor fin(s) 18before the forming of first and second spacers 22, 28 in someapplications. In this case, portions of semiconductor fin(s) 18positioned below first and second spacers 22, 28 can include slopedsidewalls 26 (shown in phantom). Sloped sidewalls 26 can alternativelybe absent from semiconductor fin(s) 18 beneath first spacer 22 or secondspacer 28, based on the time at which first and second spacers 22, 28are formed.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process of forming electrical connections betweensemiconductor fin(s) 18 and other components. Source/drain contact(s) 30can be formed on semiconductor fin(s) 18 outside first and second spacer22, 28, e.g., by epitaxial growth. Epitaxial growth or “epitaxy” canrefer to a process in which a thin layer of single-crystal material isdeposited on a single-crystal substrate. Epitaxial growth can occur insuch a way that the crystallographic structure of the substrate isreproduced in the formed material. Alternative techniques can includedepositing source/drain contacts 30 onto semiconductor fin(s) 18.Source/drain contact(s) 30 may be composed of a crystalline conductiveor semiconductive material including, e.g., silicon (Si), silicon carbon(SiC), monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon germanium (SiGe),silicon germanium carbon (SiGeC), Ge alloys, gallium arsenic (GaAs),indium arsenic (InAs), indium phosphorus (InP), other iii-V or ii-VIcompound semiconductors, as well as organic conductors orsemiconductors.

Turning now to FIG. 8, processes according to the present disclosure caninclude removing sacrificial gate 20 and replacing sacrificial gate 20with other types of gate dielectric materials and/or gate stacks. In atransistor such as a finFET, a gate can be a structure for controllingthe output current (i.e., the flow of carrier atoms in the channelregion of semiconductor fin(s) 18), which may include a dielectricmaterial and/or a stack of various materials. A dielectric layer 32 inthe form of one or more insulating materials discussed elsewhere herein,such as a flowable oxide, can be formed (e.g., by deposition) onsacrificial gate 20, first spacer 22, and second spacer 28 to contactand/or cover each of these components. The formed dielectric layer 32and portions of the components it contacts can then be removed (e.g., bya planarization process) to expose sacrificial gate 20. Semiconductorfin(s) 18 positioned within and/or beneath sacrificial gate 20 caninclude substantially vertical sidewalls 19 without sloping.

Referring to FIG. 9, sacrificial gate 20 can be removed by, e.g., aselective etching process such as chemical etching. In otherembodiments, etch masks (not shown) can be placed on dielectric layer 32while sacrificial gate 20 remains exposed. Where sacrificial gate 20 iscomposed of polycrystalline silicon, sacrificial gate 20 can be removedby a particular etching solution (e.g., a hydrogen fluoride—watersolution) which removes the crystalline polysilicon of sacrificial gate20 while not affecting other materials, e.g., first and second spacers22, 28, dielectric layer 32, etc. Semiconductor fin(s) 18 can be exposedafter sacrificial gate 20 is removed.

FIG. 10 illustrates an optional process for modifying a channel regionof semiconductor fin(s) 18. The exposed portions of semiconductor fin(s)18 can be partially removed or otherwise reduced in size, whether in thesame process in which sacrificial gate 20 is removed or in a differentetching process. A channel region 34 can be formed from semiconductorfin(s) 18 as a result of this process, with channel region 34 contactingthe remainder of semiconductor fin 18 laterally (i.e., into and out ofthe plane of the page) and vertically as shown in FIG. 10. Channelregion 34 can have a substantially smaller width w₂ than a width w₁ ofthe remainder of semiconductor fin 18 from which channel region 34 isformed.

A top-down view of an IC structure 36 is shown in FIG. 11. Aftersacrificial gate 20 is removed, a gate dielectric 38 can be formed inits place, e.g., by deposition and planarization. Gate dielectric 38 caninclude one or more dielectric materials and/or other materials. Asexamples, gate dielectric 38 can include silicon oxide (SiO₂), hafniumoxide (HfO₂), zirconium silicate (ZrSiO₄), and/or other types ofdielectric materials. As is shown by example in FIG. 11, IC structure 36can include multiple semiconductor fins 18 extending through gatedielectric 38 between source/drain contacts 30. To further illustratethe features of IC structure 38, reference lines which correspond tocross-sectional views, A-A′ (FIG. 12), B-B′ (FIG. 13), and C-C′ (FIG.14), are provided. Semiconductor fins 18, first spacer 22, and secondspacer 28 are shown with phantom lines to designate their positionbeneath dielectric layer 32. First and second spacers 22, 28 can bepositioned circumferentially about gate dielectric 38, as shown in FIG.12. In alternative embodiments, IC structure 36 can include sacrificialgate 20 (FIGS. 3-4, 6-8) instead of gate dielectric 38. For example, ICstructure 36 can be fabricated without removing sacrificial gate 20, andsacrificial gate 20 can be replaced with gate dielectric 38 or anothercomponent in a separate or independent process where applicable. WhereIC structure 36 includes sacrificial gate 20, sacrificial gate 20 can bein the form of polycrystalline silicon or other materials capable ofbeing removed selectively.

IC structure 36 can include at least one semiconductor fin 18, with gatedielectric 38 being positioned above semiconductor fin 18 and defining afirst region 40 (FIG. 12) thereof. First and/or second spacers 22, 28can be positioned above semiconductor fin 18 to thereby define one ormore second regions 42 (FIG. 13) thereof. Source/drain contacts 30 cancontact and thereby define one or more third regions 44 (FIG. 14) ofsemiconductor fin 18. Adjacent second 42 and third regions 44 of ICstructure 36 can, together, make up one “end region” of IC structure 36.Alternatively, an “end region” of IC structure 36 can include allportions of semiconductor fin(s) 18 which are not located beneath gatedielectric 38 (or sacrificial gate 20 (FIGS. 3-4, 6-8) whereapplicable). Semiconductor fin(s) 18 can include sloped sidewalls 26(FIGS. 5-7) at its interface with source/drain contacts 30 at thirdregion 44. Reference line A-A′ passes through first region 40 ofsemiconductor fin(s) 18, reference line B-B′ passes through secondregion 42 of semiconductor fin(s) 18, and reference line C-C′ passesthrough third region 44 of semiconductor fin(s) 18.

Turning to FIG. 12, a cross-sectional view of IC structure 36 (FIG. 11)at first region 40 of one semiconductor fin 18 is provided. Gatedielectric 38 can be positioned about and/or in contact with channelregion 34 of semiconductor fin 18. Channel region 34 of semiconductorfin can have a corresponding first height h₁ and first width w₁. A crosssection of the first region of semiconductor fin(s) 18 can include firstand second spacers 20, 28 positioned between dielectric layer 32 andgate dielectric 38. In operation, a voltage applied to gate dielectric38 can influence the electrical conductivity of semiconductor fin 18through channel region 34.

FIG. 13 provides a cross-sectional view along line B-B′ of second region42 of semiconductor fin(s) 18 in IC structure 36 (FIG. 11).Semiconductor fin 18 in second region 42 can extend above dielectric 24by a particular height h₂. Semiconductor fin(s) 18 being positionedbetween and/or within first and second spacers 22, 28 throughout secondregion 42 can protect portions of semiconductor fin(s) 18 in firstregion 40 (FIG. 12), which are shown in FIGS. 9-10 and discussedelsewhere herein. In an embodiment, height h₂ can be greater than heighth₁ (FIG. 12) of first region 40 (FIG. 12). Semiconductor fin(s) 18within second region 42 can also include a second width w₂ in secondregion 42 which may be larger than first width w₁ (FIG. 12) ofsemiconductor fin(s) within first region 40. As an example, second widthw₂ of semiconductor fin(s) 18 in second region 42 can be approximatelytwice the width of w₁. In addition, where first and second spacers 22,28 are formed after the tapering of semiconductor fin(s), semiconductorfin(s) 18 can include sloped sidewalls 26 (shown in phantom) within atleast part of second region 42. Sloped sidewalls 26 can be oriented atan angle between approximately seventy degrees and approximatelyeighty-seven degrees relative to buried insulator layer 14, as isdescribed elsewhere herein and shown by angle α of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 14, a cross-sectional view along line C-C′ of third region 44 ofsemiconductor fin(s) 18 in IC structure 36 (FIG. 11). Semiconductor fin18 in third region 44 can extend above dielectric 24 by a particularheight h₃. Semiconductor fin(s) 18 can include sloped sidewalls 26formed by tapering. IC structure 36 at third region 44 can include oneor more source/drain contacts 30 contacting sloped sidewalls 26. Slopedsidewalls 26 of semiconductor fin(s) 18 can provide stability andperformance similar to substantially vertical sidewalls 19, whileincreasing the ability to form source/drain contacts 30 (e.g., byepitaxy) and other elements such as second spacer 28 and/or otherelectrical components connected to IC structure 36. In an embodiment,height h₃ of semiconductor fin(s) 18 in third region 44 can also begreater than height h₁ (FIG. 12) of semiconductor fin(s) 18 in firstregion 40 (FIG. 12). Semiconductor fin(s) 18 within third region 44 canalso include a third width w₃ which may be larger than first width w₁(FIG. 12) of semiconductor fin(s) within first region 40 (FIG. 12).Third width w₃ of semiconductor fin(s) 18 in third region 44 can beapproximately twice the width of w₁. Sloped sidewalls 26 in third region44 can be oriented at an angle α with a value between approximatelyseventy degrees and approximately eighty-seven degrees relative toburied insulator layer 14.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the disclosure and the practical application, and toenable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosurefor various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated circuit (IC) structure comprising:a semiconductor fin; a gate dielectric positioned above a first regionof the semiconductor fin; a spacer positioned above a second region ofthe semiconductor fin and adjacent to the gate dielectric; and asource/drain region contacting a third region of the semiconductor fin;wherein the first region of the semiconductor fin includes substantiallyvertical sidewalls, and the third region of the semiconductor finincludes sloped sidewalls.
 2. The IC structure of claim 1, wherein thesidewalls of the third region are oriented at an angle of betweenapproximately seventy degrees and approximately eighty-seven degreesrelative to an insulator layer positioned beneath the IC structure. 3.The IC structure of claim 1, wherein the second region of thesemiconductor fin includes sloped sidewalls.
 4. The IC structure ofclaim 1, wherein the sloped sidewalls of the second region are orientedat an angle of between approximately seventy degrees and approximatelyeighty-seven degrees relative to an insulator layer positioned beneaththe IC structure.
 5. The IC structure of claim 1, wherein a height offirst region is less than a height of the third region.
 6. The ICstructure of claim 4, wherein the width of the semiconductor fin in thefirst region is less than approximately half of the width of thesemiconductor fin in the third region.
 7. The IC structure of claim 1,wherein the spacer is positioned circumferentially about the gatedielectric.
 8. The IC structure of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of semiconductor fins extending through the gate dielectricand the spacer, wherein one of the plurality of semiconductor finsincludes sloped sidewalls.
 9. The IC structure of claim 1, wherein thespacer includes a first spacer positioned circumferentially about thegate dielectric, and a second spacer positioned circumferentially aboutthe first spacer.
 10. A method of forming an integrated circuit (IC)structure, the method comprising: forming a sacrificial gate on asemiconductor fin; forming a first spacer on the semiconductor fin;tapering an exposed portion of the semiconductor fin to form slopedsidewalls thereon; and forming a second spacer at least partially on theexposed portion of the semiconductor fin.
 11. The method of claim 10,further comprising forming one of a source contact and a drain contacton the sloped sidewalls of the semiconductor fin after the forming ofthe second spacer.
 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:forming a dielectric layer on the sacrificial gate, the first spacer,and the second spacer; and removing a portion of the dielectric layer toexpose the sacrificial gate.
 13. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising: selectively removing the sacrificial gate from thesemiconductor fin; and forming a gate dielectric on the exposed thesemiconductor fin after the removing of the sacrificial gate.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising reducing a width of the exposedfirst portion of the semiconductor fin before the forming of the gatedielectric.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the sloped sidewalls areoriented at an angle of between approximately seventy degrees andapproximately eighty-seven degrees relative to an insulator layerpositioned beneath the IC structure.
 16. The method of claim 10, whereinthe tapering of the exposed portion of the semiconductor fin occursbefore the forming of the first and second spacers.
 17. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the sacrificial gate comprises a polycrystallinesilicon material.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein the semiconductorfin comprises at least one of a plurality of semiconductor finspositioned on an insulator layer.
 19. An integrated circuit (IC)structure comprising: a semiconductor fin; a gate dielectric positionedabove a channel region of the semiconductor fin, the channel region ofthe semiconductor fin being positioned between two end regions of thesemiconductor fin; a spacer positioned above the two end regions of thesemiconductor fin, wherein the spacer is positioned circumferentiallyabout the gate dielectric; a source contact coupled to one of the twoend regions of the semiconductor fin; and a drain contact coupled to theother of the two end regions of the semiconductor fin; wherein thechannel region of the semiconductor fin includes substantially verticalsidewalls, and the two end regions of the semiconductor fin includesloped sidewalls.
 20. The IC structure of claim 19, wherein the two endregions include sidewalls oriented at an angle of between approximatelyseventy degrees and approximately eighty-seven degrees relative to aninsulator layer positioned beneath the IC structure.